This fanfiction is
intended for mature readers due to the vivid depiction of a consensual adult
relationship. The setting is First
Season, post-The Preacher. Please consult a hair care professional
before attempting any hair care methods described in this chapter.
ljljljljlj
Kitty’s scalp tingled warmly with each relaxing stroke of soft
bristles over her rapidly drying hair.
“How much do you think I would need to pay for the repairs, Matt?” she murmured
sleepily, lulled by his soothing, rhythmic strokes. She turned her head to glance over her shoulder
at him through hooded eyes, his face intent on his work.
“Keep still,” he admonished gently, relishing the sensation
of her cool, silky hair slipping damply within his palms. “I don’t know, Kitty.” He blew out a thoughtful breath. “I’m no rancher. We’ll have to consult with Hepley, maybe even
the bank, to get a better idea. You
might make out better if you just sell it outright, without repairing the flood
damage.”
“Honestly, I don’t think I have anywhere near enough cash to
repair barns and fences.” She peeped
around at him again and drowsily rubbed her heavy eyelids. “You may be right about going ahead and
selling it as is.”
“There you go again.
Turn back around…” He silently
marveled at how beautifully her fiery hair shone in the bright sunlight, combing
his bare fingers through the thick, sleek tresses, the ends curling softly as
they dried.
“When do you think we can talk to Mr. Hepley again,
Matt? I’m feeling much better, really I
am.”
“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere yet.” Matt scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Besides, Doc would have a conniption
fit.”
“But, Matt, it’s been such a long time. I need to see about selling this place.”
“I tell you what…” He
tenderly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Now that you’re feeling a little better, I’d
like to ride into town and have me a talk with Virgil Ware.”
“What for?”
“I wanna know what caused that hotel fire.”
“What do you mean?”
Kitty turned her whole body sideways in the chair to get a good look at
him.
“I mean, it looked suspicious, Kitty. The fire was isolated to your room only. Virgil said he smelled kerosene fumes.”
“What?” Kitty’s eyes
widened.
“That’s why I want to talk with the sheriff. And while I’m in town, I’ll ask Hepley to
come out here for a meeting. That way
you can rest and not have to travel. I
don’t want you getting sick again, young lady.”
Matt punctuated his statement by shoving his hat further back on his
head and placing his hands determinedly on his hips. “I mean it.”
“Oh, all right…” she answered in a sweetly conciliatory
tone, gazing up at him out of the corner of her eyes.
Matt’s voice raised a notch.
“You mean you’re not gonna argue with me?”
Taking his hand, she gave him the tiniest smile. “No.
You know what’s best.”
“Kathleen Russell, do you have a fever again?” A thick eyebrow rose over Marshal Dillon’s forehead.
She gave a throaty laugh accompanied by a small residual
cough… “No!”
“Well, I’m going to carry these things back in the
house. I want to have everything cleaned
up and you safely in bed before Doc gets back.”
“Well, take those things first.” She gave his hand a tender squeeze. “Let me sit out here just for a few more
minutes. It’s so nice. My hair can finish drying, too.”
Matt took a luxurious handful of her hair in his hand,
holding it to his nose and inhaling deeply, the silken strands softly tickling
his lips. He sighed, “Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Clutching his arm, Kitty tugged him down until his face hovered
over hers. Before he could react, she
kissed him, soft and wet and deep…but fleetingly. She placed her hands on his cheeks and gazed
into his eyes intently and said, “Thank you, Matt…” Then she reluctantly released him.
He gave her a dazed grin and tipped his hat, “You’re most
welcome, little lady.” And he loped off
toward the back door, towels thrown over his shoulder, her brush and comb stuck
in his back pockets, splashing water from the overfull washbasin as he went. He finally leaned over and dumped the water beneath
a thorny rose bush before ducking his head into the house.
Kitty smiled to herself and sat looking out at the barns on
the property behind her. It made her sad
to think of selling this place that her family had lived on for so long, but
what on earth would she do with a ranch?
The best thing to do was to sell it and use the money to invest in the
Long Branch with Bill Pence. Kitty was a
city girl, after all. Glancing over at
the bushes, she could have sworn she saw something moving there. Probably a prairie dog or possum or even a
wild turkey for all she knew. This place
was crawling with varmints.
Idly, she wondered what her aunt had finally done with her
“rainy day” money. Kitty’s rainy day had
come in spades, all right, and wiped out part of her inheritance. But at least it wasn’t anything resembling a
total loss. She should still be able to
raise a large portion of the payment to Bill in the end.
Kitty closed her eyes and tried to imagine what it would be
like to own her own business, to be her own boss. It thrilled her to think that her dream was
actually within reach, that she would never again have to live that life that
both she and her aunt Océane despised. Would never have to lay a hand on another man as
long as she lived if she didn’t want to…Matt Dillon excluded, of course. Kitty started when she heard a strange sound
rapidly approaching. Her eyes flew open
and she cried out when something brushed against her.
A delighted laugh burst from her throat when she stared down
into liquid brown eyes gazing lovingly up at her, a big yellow, furry head nestled
firmly in her lap.
“You must be Big Sam!” Kitty exclaimed, giving the large
yellow dog’s ears an enthusiastic and thorough scratching. Big Sam happily hassled and smiled up at her
adoringly. “Oh, you are such a sweet dog, yes you are!” She petted and cooed to Big Sam, who sat very
still, gazing at Kitty and listening intently to every word she uttered.
“Hello, Doc! Hello,
Isom! Look who I just met...”
Isom beamed, “I can see he has taken a shine to you, Miss.”
“Oh, I’ve taken a shine to him, alright. He is such a good boy.”
Doc squinted at her and remarked fondly, “You look purty as
a picture, young lady, sitting out in the midst of the beauty of nature,
freshly scrubbed and pink-cheeked from the sun…”
Kitty’s mouth dropped open in surprise, “Why, thank you, D—“
His tone quickly turned reproving, “…but what on earth are
you still doin’ out here? Matt should
have you back in bed underneath the covers and resting by now… Why, I oughta…”
“You’ll do no such thing, Doc…” Her eyes twinkled and the corners of her
mouth turned up. “Matt has been taking
wonderful care of me, and you know it.
Don’t you fuss at him, not one little bit.” Kitty reached for his free arm and stood a
bit unsteadily, leaning on her friend.
“Oh…all right.” Doc gave
her a placating pat on the hand. “But
only cause you asked me…”
Doc wrapped his arm firmly around Kitty’s waist, handing off
the string of fish to his companion.
“Would you mind, Isom?”
“Not at all, Doc, not at all. You go ahead and escort the young lady back
inside before she catches her death.”
Isom gave a sly wink at Kitty behind Doc’s back and Kitty grinned at him
in return. She and Doc unhurriedly strolled
back to the house, arm in arm.
Isom headed happily toward the water pump, ready to clean
their string of beauties for supper.
And shrouded in the shade-dappled treeline, a shadowy figure
mounted his horse, trotting away before anyone could spot him and become
suspicious, revealing his hand before he could make his next move.
tbc
ljljljljlj
No comments:
Post a Comment